De Bisschopsmolen

What De Bisschopsmolen does

De Bisschopsmolen is a privately held artisan bakery founded in 2005 by Frank van Eerd and Diana van Eerd, operating from the historic Bisschopsmolen watermill on the Jeker river in central Maastricht — the oldest operational watermill in the Netherlands. The company produces sourdough breads (desembroden) made from a five-ingredient recipe with a 24-hour fermentation window, and authentic Limburgse vlaaien (fruit pies) holding EU Protected Geographical Indication (BGA) status granted in January 2024. It pioneered 100% spelt baking in the Netherlands and works with over 20 grain varieties sourced from Limburg regional farmers, most notably through the Kollenberger Spelt cooperative which produces approximately 1,000 tonnes of spelt annually on 170 hectares and supplies more than 220 Dutch bakeries.

The business operates a multi-channel model combining direct-to-consumer retail (bakkerij/winkel), a tasting-room café (smaaklokaal), a four-person Bed & Breakfast (Bakker & Bed), an owned e-commerce webshop (bisschopsmolenwebshop.nl), and paid workshops and tours. B2B revenue is generated through GrainLabs — a wholly owned knowledge centre and sub-brand that supplies sports nutrition products (sport bars, specialised breads, kersensap, lupine-based items) to professional cycling teams including Team Visma | Lease a Bike and Team Picnic PostNL, the KNWU, Sportcentrum Papendal, and hospitals such as Maxima Ziekenhuis. The company employs 11-50 staff and runs a circular economy partnership with Gulpener Bierbrouwerij.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across transaction-based retail and workshop sales, recurring B&B bookings (€625-€795 per stay), unit-priced workshops (€16.50-€35 per person), and direct B2B supply contracts with sports and healthcare clients. Pricing is transparent and tied to short, traceable supply chains. Customer segments span general consumers, schools (via the Broodje Limburg programme), professional sports organisations, and healthcare institutions, with the Kollenberger Spelt cooperative extending influence across the broader Dutch artisan bakery industry.

Name

De Bisschopsmolen

Legal name

De Bisschopsmolen

Website

https://bisschopsmolen.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

De Bisschopsmolen is a Maastricht-based artisan bakery operating from the oldest watermill in the Netherlands, producing sourdough breads, BGA-protected Limburgse vlaaien, and GrainLabs sports/health nutrition products for consumers, professional cycling teams, and hospitals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Bakery (Sourdough Bread & Limburgse Vlaaien)

NAICS

Bread and Bakery Product Manufacturing (31181), Retail Bakeries (311811), Commercial Bakeries (311812), Frozen Cakes, Pies, and Other Pastries Manufacturing (311813), Dry Pasta, Dough, and Flour Mixes Manufacturing from Purchased Flour (311824)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050)

akta.pro primary industry

Bread & Rolls Manufacturing (AFAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Bakery Manufacturing (Gluten-Free, Artisan, Health-Focused) (AFAKAAAG), Health/Protein Snack Bars Manufacturing (AFAKAIAN), Grain-Based Mixes & Doughs Manufacturing (pancake/waffle mixes, baking mixes, dough bases) (AFAKABAF), Specialty Dietary Bakeries (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Allergen-Friendly) (THAFAFAI), Wholesale / Commercial Bakeries (B2B Supply) (THAFAFAF)

Keywords

• Artisan sourdough bread
• Limburgse vlaai pies
• Specialty grain bakery
• Spelt flour wholesale
• Sports nutrition bars

Headquarters

HQ city

Maastricht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Bakery Retail (Winkel & Smaaklokaal): The bakery sells artisan breads (sourdough desembroden) and authentic Limburgse vlaaien directly to consumers through its physical shop and cafe (smaaklokaal/gelagkamer) located at Stenenbrug 3 in Maastricht. Opening hours are Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays.
2. Webshop (bisschopsmolenwebshop.nl): Products are sold online through the company's own e-commerce platform. Separate phone line for webshop orders (043 327 06 14, Tuesday–Friday).
3. Bakker & Bed (Bed & Breakfast): The company operates a Bed & Breakfast above the bakery accommodating up to 4 guests. Rates are €625 Monday–Friday, €795 Friday–Monday, and €1,095 per week on request. Includes breakfast and a complimentary slice of vlaai.
4. Activities and Workshops: Revenue is generated from paid group activities: vlaai bakken workshops (€35/person), brood bakken workshops (€35/person), 'Van Bakker tot Akker' tours (€18.95/person), 'Brood op de Plank' tasting sessions (€18.95/person), children's parties (€16.50/person), and business meeting/training packages.
5. Wholesale Flour and Ingredients to Other Bakeries: The Kollenberger Spelt cooperative (of which De Bisschopsmolen is a founding member) supplies spelt flour milled at the Commandeursmolen to over 220 bakeries across the Netherlands, generating revenue from wholesale flour sales.
6. GrainLabs Branded Products: GrainLabs develops and sells specialised bread mixes, banket (pastry) mixes, and sport-focused products (e.g., sports bars with lupine) through the webshop and via B2B supply to sports teams and healthcare institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

De Bisschopsmolen is an artisan bakery in Maastricht's historic Jeker watermill that produces traditional sourdough breads (Desembroden) and authentic Limburgse vlaaien from locally grown Limburg grains using only five ingredients and a 24-hour slow-fermentation process. Beyond the core bakery, the company runs a café/smaaklokaal, a Bed & Breakfast (Bakker & Bed), paid workshops and tours, an e-commerce webshop, and a B2B wholesale and sports/healthcare nutrition line branded under GrainLabs.

Product overview

De Bisschopsmolen is an artisan bakery and hospitality business in Maastricht operating as a multi-channel offering. Core products include traditional sourdough breads (Desembroden) made with five simple ingredients and 24-hour rising time, and authentic Limburgian vlaai (fruit pies) with various fillings. The product portfolio extends to specialty grains through Kollenberger Spelt products and Tritordeum-based items, as well as sports nutrition products (Sportrepen) developed with elite cycling team Team Visma | Lease a Bike. The company operates through GrainLabs, a knowledge center collaborating with scientists, athletes, and healthcare professionals. Hospitality services include Bakker & Bed (bed and breakfast), Smaaklokaal (tasting room/restaurant), and various activities including vlaai-making workshops, bakery tours, and bread tasting experiences. An e-commerce webshop enables online ordering of all products. The Bisschopsmolen is recognized as the oldest working water mill in the Netherlands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GrainLabs: Knowledge center for grain research and innovation, collaborating with scientists, sports experts, healthcare professionals, and consumers to develop optimal grain-based nutrition products.

Products and services

• Desembroden (Sourdough Breads) Traditional sourdough breads made with only five ingredients (grain, water, sourdough starter, salt, and fat/oil) and a 24-hour slow fermentation, with no additives or improvers. Sold to retail consumers in the Maastricht shop and online via the webshop.
• Limburgse Vlaaien (Limburgian Pies) Authentic Limburgian fruit pies with fillings baked into the crust (e.g., kersen/cherry, appel/noten/apple-nut, rijstevlaai/rice, roomkruimelvlaai). Protected under EU BGA status since January 2024, with strict regional and process rules.
• Kollenberger Spelt Products Breads and bakery products made from Kollenberger Spelt grain grown across 170 hectares in Limburg (~1,000 tonnes/year), milled at the Commandeursmolen and supplied to the bakery and 220+ other Dutch bakeries.
• Tritordeum Products Bakery products made with Tritordeum grain (a durum wheat × wild barley cross), including the Desem Tritordeumbroodje and Desem Tritordeum pitabroodje; positioned for easier digestibility with lower gluten content.
• Sportrepen (Sports Bars) Energy bars formulated for elite athletes without beet or cane sugar, including appel-citroen reep, bananen-chocoladerepen, and lupine-based protein bars. Supplied to Team Visma | Lease a Bike, KNWU, Team Picnic PostNL, Dutch National Football Team, Sportcentrum Papendal and other sports partners.
• GrainLabs Knowledge centre and product-development platform developing specialty grain-based mixes, sport and clinical nutrition products (e.g., sport bars, high-protein mixes). Operates as a sub-brand of De Bisschopsmolen.
• Bakker & Bed (Bed & Breakfast) Bed & Breakfast accommodation above the bakery for up to 4 persons, including breakfast prepared by bakers, tourist tax, VAT, bed linens, towels, and a complimentary Limburgse vlaai slice. Rates: €625 Mon–Fri and €795 Fri–Mon (week-stay €1,095 on request).
• Smaaklokaal (Café / Tasting Room) Restaurant and café within the watermill serving breakfast, lunch and traditional Limburgse vlaai, with the 'Brood op de Plank' bread-tasting experience featuring regional toppings. Open Tuesday–Sunday.
• Webwinkel (Online Shop) Own e-commerce storefront selling breads, Limburgse vlaaien, GrainLabs bread and banket mixes, sport bars and kersensap nationwide in the Netherlands, with a dedicated phone line for orders.
• Vlaai Bakken Workshops Paid, ~2-hour hands-on workshops teaching traditional Limburgian vlaai baking. Group sessions €35/person (min. 12 participants) including 2–3 fillings, coffee and vlaai; individual open-enrollment sessions on variable Saturdays (10:00–12:00).
• Van Bakker tot Akker (Bakery-to-Farm Tours) Guided group tours through the watermill and bakery explaining grain growing, milling and baking, including introduction to local growers. €18.95/person, ~1.5 hours, minimum 12 participants; includes coffee/tea and a slice of vlaai.
• Brood op de Plank (Bread on the Board Tasting) Tasting experience pairing artisan sourdough breads with fresh regional toppings, offered as group breakfast or lunch. €18.95/person, minimum 10 persons; includes coffee/tea, appelsap and milk.
• Lupine Shoarma Product Line Plant-based protein products made with Dutch lupine beans, including Lupine Shoarma developed in collaboration with Jamael Food Group and Lekker Lupine. Targeted at healthcare (hospital nutrition) and elite sports markets.
• Eiwitrijke Vegan Tritordeum Banketmix Protein-rich, vegan Tritordeum pastry mix developed in collaboration with Máxima Ziekenhuis for patients with elevated protein needs; used in cakes and pastries in clinical and consumer settings.
• Kersensap (Cherry Juice) Cherry juice made from sour cherries (morellen) of Bemelerhof; rich in antioxidants, melatonin and vitamins. Used by athletes for muscle recovery and sold via the webshop.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500 sourdough spelt breads sold on the first day of launch (23 August 2000) at Le Marché, Sittard — a record for a new product
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Regionaal Voedselsysteem Limburg (RVS-LB)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Supported the Broodje Limburg initiative developed by students Stijn Hendriks and Ilse van Eerd for school canteens across Limburg. RVS-LB provides support to further develop and connect the concept, promoting regional food consumption in Limburg schools.
• BOON Chefs and Lekker LupineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration at Horecabeurs Amsterdam and FSIN Brunchcongres to promote the Desem Tritordeumbroodje with Lupine Shoarma — a plant-based protein-rich alternative developed using Dutch lupine beans. Lupine tiler Henk Kerkers and Frank van Eerd collaborated on this product.
• MVV MaastrichtminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023GrainLabs supplies sports nutrition products to MVV football club as part of its regional sports support programme.
• Maxima Ziekenhuis (Veldhoven)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaboration to develop the Eiwitrijke Vegan Tritordeum Banketmix for patients with elevated protein needs. The mix is used in hospital settings to support muscle recovery, wound healing, and immune function in patients and elderly individuals.
• Sportcentrum PapendalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Chef-kok Erik te Velthuis (and later Robbert Hulsteijn) of Sportcentrum Papendal uses Bisschopsmolen/GrainLabs products in athlete meal programmes. Papendal is the primary training centre for Dutch Olympic athletes. Ordered 4,000 cakejes for Paris 2024 Olympics.
• Team Picnic PostNL (formerly Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019GrainLabs supplies sport nutrition products to the professional cycling team as part of ongoing sports nutrition partnerships.
• The Athlete's FoodCoachminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019FoodCoach platform used in conjunction with GrainLabs products for athlete nutrition management and meal planning.
• Gulpener BierbrouwerijcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partnership to create 'Het Verboden Brood' (The Forbidden Bread): leftover bread from De Bisschopsmolen is dried, milled, and used by Gulpener to brew a craft beer, creating a fully circular economy loop. Also, bierbostel (brewer's grain) from Gulpener is used in Bisschopsmolen breads. The collaboration exemplifies shared sustainability values and circular economy principles.
• Maastricht University (Universiteit Maastricht)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Collaboration with Prof. Fred Brouns of Maastricht University contributed to the development of GrainLabs and the introduction of Tritordeum to the Dutch market. The university partnership provides scientific validation for the company's grain health claims (Well on Wheat, Health Grain projects) and supports product development for sports and healthcare applications.
• Wageningen University & Research (Wageningen U&R)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnered with De Bisschopsmolen in the development and introduction of Tritordeum to the Dutch market. The university collaboration provides scientific research support for grain health claims and nutritional profiling of alternative grain varieties.
• Team Visma | Lease a Bike (formerly Rabobank, Belkin, Lotto-Jumbo, Jumbo-Visma)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Ten-year official supplier relationship. De Bisschopsmolen/GrainLabs supplies sport bars (Toprepen, appel-citroen repen), sourdough breads, and kersensap to the professional cycling team. Products are developed in collaboration with team nutritionists to meet precise energy, carbohydrate, and protein requirements. The team also provides feedback that drives product innovation.
• KNWU (Royal Dutch Cycling Union)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012KNWU uses GrainLabs products for its athletes. Wilbert Broekhuizen (Technical Director Topsport) confirms the products' importance during and after competitions. The KNWU has expressed interest in expanding the GrainLabs community programme to involve more artisan bakers in school nutrition education programmes.
• Laurens ten Dam (Individual Athlete)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Former professional cyclist whose 2012 tweet praising Bisschopsmolen spelt bread initiated the entire sports partnership portfolio. This casual social media interaction led to the collaboration with Rabobank/Lotto-Jumbo/Jumbo-Visma and ultimately to GrainLabs.
• Commandeursmolen (Molenfamily Schyns)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Traditional stone mill in Mechelen, Netherlands, where Kollenberger spelt grain is traditionally milled into flour. The mill operates as part of the boer–molen–bakker chain, providing the milling link in the transparent supply chain. De Bisschopsmolen has a direct pricing agreement with the mill for stable milling costs.
• Kollenberger Spelt Cooperative (Boerencollectief Kollenberger Spelt)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Five Limburg farmers (Wynand Vogels, Huub Diederen, and three others) formed the Kollenberger Spelt cooperative to cultivate regional spelt grain on 170 hectares. The cooperative produces ~1,000 tonnes of spelt per year, milled at the Commandeursmolen in Mechelen, and supplied to 220+ Dutch bakeries. De Bisschopsmolen is the founding bakery customer and driving force behind the cooperative.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Backwerk: German self-service bakery chain with broad retail footprint. Comparable to De Bisschopsmolen on bakery retail operations but operates franchised self-service kiosks rather than an artisan mill concept.
• La Place: Dutch restaurant/café chain owned by Jumbo with extensive in-house bakery operations. A broader incumbent in the Dutch bakery-foodservice space; overlaps with De Bisschopsmolen on bread and vlaai-style products but at industrial scale and without the artisan/regional positioning.
• Vandemoortele: Large European bakery and pastry manufacturer with deep B2B foodservice and retail channels. Comparable to De Bisschopsmolen on the wholesale/bakery production side (B2B ingredient supply) but at industrial scale rather than artisan niche.
• Délifrance: European bakery-café chain with B2B foodservice supply into hotels, transport, and retail. Comparable to De Bisschopsmolen's multi-channel model (retail, café, B2B) but operating at much larger scale and without the regional/heritage positioning.

Emerging players

• Maurten: Swedish sports nutrition brand supplying elite endurance athletes and teams with carbohydrate and protein products. Comparable to the GrainLabs sports-nutrition line and De Bisschopsmolen's elite cycling team partnerships in the same B2B sports nutrition channel.
• Science in Sport (SiS): UK-listed sports nutrition company supplying endurance athletes with energy gels, bars, and powders. Comparable to De Bisschopsmolen's GrainLabs sports bar and bread products in the elite athlete nutrition category.

Direct peers

• Stadsbakkerij De Veldkeur: Dutch city bakery focused on artisan sourdough and regional grain sourcing. Comparable niche positioning to De Bisschopsmolen in the heritage/ancient-grain artisan bread category in the Netherlands.
• Poilâne: Iconic Parisian sourdough bakery operating from historic premises with a globally recognised artisan brand. Directly comparable to De Bisschopsmolen as a heritage-anchored, single-location artisan sourdough specialist with strong brand equity and direct-to-consumer retail.
• Le Pain Quotidien: International bakery-café concept combining artisan bread with restaurant and retail operations. Closely mirrors De Bisschopsmolen's bakery-plus-café-plus-retail model and the brand's emphasis on transparency and ingredient provenance.
• Bakkerij Blom: Dutch artisan bakery with strong regional identity and traditional craft positioning. A direct Dutch peer in the artisan bread segment with overlapping sourdough and heritage baking positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Bisschopsmolen
• Instagraminstagram.com/debisschopsmolen
• Xx.com/Bisschopsmolen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bisschopsmolen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about De Bisschopsmolen